The game started at a brisk pace with both sides eager to attack and no quarter given. Josh Huggins was booked in the 3rd minute for a robust tackle and the free kick was cleared. Following a sustained attack, Ashikodi was put through on 6 minutes, but was flagged off-side.

A Ciardini effort from 20 yards was saved by Scriven then, at the other end, a Siaw free kick was too strong for everybody and ran out for a goal kick. Huggins charged into a tackle on the left flank which could have seen a 2nd yellow and an early bath, but fortune was on his side. Play continued swinging from end to end and a quickly taken free kick saw Ashikodi put Bennett in with a chance, but he shot well over. Havant opened the scoring on 21 minutes with a goal from nowhere, when Perry struck from outside the area giving Scriven no chance.

Siaw was booked on 26 minutes (dissent) and play remained fairly even with both sides having chances, Ashikodi having been caught off-side on 35 minutes, saw another effort go just wide a few minutes later. Scriven was called into action firstly palming the ball away for a corner and then saving well from a Kabba effort from 7 yards. While Boro’ enjoyed a good deal of possession, the Hawks were quick on the counter attack and the only goal of the half coming from just such a break.

Half Time:- Hawks 1 – Borough 0

The second period carried on much like the first, with both sides having good attacking spells. Huggins, following good approach work, had an effort deflected for a corner which came to nothing. Kabba, Nannetti and Ciardini were prominent for Hawks, with Nannetti miskicking completely from 12 yards out and another good run was halted by a timely tackle from Bowers. The same player put Bennett through at the other end, but his effort was blocked.

Both sides made a flurry of substitutions during a ten minute spell from the 55th minute and then following a good save by Scriven from Atangana, Nic Ciardini struck on 68 minutes to give Hawks a 2 – 0 advantage. Bosch was booked for a foul on Kabba on the edge of the area and the free kick had to wait while Havant made their final substitution. When the kick was taken, the ball was tapped to Ryan, who blazed high and wide.

Borough by no means gave up the fight and Hammond netted from a Bennett cross only to be ruled offside. Shortly afterwards Bevan saved from Bennett at the foot of a post. Boro’s final substitution came in the 83rd minute when Page was replaced by Fearn. Five minutes later, a free kick from the left side of the area was fairly hammered home by Ciardini, for his 2nd and Hawks 3rd goal.

The last 5 minutes were quite eventful, with Hawks picking up two more bookings. Firstly, Harris saw yellow for kicking the ball away when Boro’ were awarded a free kick, then, Oli was cautioned for a needless tackle on Fearn. The last couple of minutes saw Boro’ on all out attack and a 20 yarder from Huggins flew just over.

Final Score:- Havant 3 – Borough 0

Once again, Boro’ showed no lack of effort and there were a number of encouraging performances, notably, Bowers, Laidler, Bosch, Huggins and Siaw and Scriven performed well on his return from injury.

However, it is clear that effort alone is not enough, that and the absence once again of a slice or two of luck, cannot disguise the need for a consistent striker to put away some of the chances that are being created.